Rotary engine



Oct. 22, 1935. M. H. P. soLOGAlsToA 2,018,100

ROTARY ENGINE Original Filed May 10, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 BnventorfCttorneg Oct. 22, 1935. M. H. P. soLoGAlsToA y 2,018,100

V ROTARY ENGINE original Filed May 1o, 1929 8 sheets-sheet 3 llll.lllllxl (Ittorneg Oct. 22, 1935*. M. HQP. soLoGAlsTOA '12,018,100

ROTARY ENGINE Original Filed Mary' lO, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Snventor:

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ROTARY ENGINE Original Filed May lO, 1929A 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Snventort 6@A BH C Q`- as l Cttorneg Oct. 22,A 1935. M. H. P. s-oLoGAlsToA 2,018,100y QQ" /ll- 17; Il V a m I Oct. 22, 1935. M. H. P. soLoGAls-roA 2,018,100

'ROTARY ENGINE Original Filed May 10, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 s Ml@mventor.

53' a Q o u I l Gttorneg.

Oct. 22, 1935. H P, soLoGAlsToA 2,018,100

ROTARY ENGINE Original Filed May 10, 1929 8 Sheets-Sheet., 7

nventor s BB v g a CL Gttorneg..

Oct' 22 1935 M. H. P. soLoGls'i-QA 2,018,100

ROTARY ENGINE Oiginal Filed May l0, 1929' 8 Sheets-Sheet' 8 Snmmtor BuCIL Gttcmneg` Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNTED STA? OFFIQE ROTARY ENGINEApplicatien May 10, 1929, Serial No. 361,994 Renewed January 14, 1935 6Claims.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines, and particularlyto internal combustion engines of the rotary type, and one object of theinvention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of partswhereby increased power and speed may be obtained, fuel losses avoided,and the number of vital working parts reduced.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rotary internalcombustion engine in which the number of working impulses per cycle isgreatly increased over prior constructions of engines, and wherein thedevices for producing such impulses may be controlled at will toregulate the power and speed of the engine as desired, so that in theuse of the engine for driving automobiles, boats, aircraft, or othervehicles, such craft may be controlled with greater ease and celerity.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an engine whoseweight, per horse-power, may be greatly reduced as compared with enginesof ordinary types.

With 'these and other objects in view, the inventicn consists of thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts,hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away and in section, of arotary internal combustion engine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale taken on iine 2 2 ofFig. 1 through a portion of the engine.

Fig. 3 is a similar section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. l through a part of the engine, showingthe stationary abutment and'pressure distributor and controller partlyin longitudinal section and partly in side elevation.

5 is a transverse section on line 5 5 of Fig. e.

Fig. 6, is a transverse section on line iB of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal transverse section through the engine casing andseveral of the piston cylinders.

Fig. 8 is a View looking toward one side of the carburetor and mixerwith portions of the adjacent side wall of its casing broken away.

Fig. 9 is an inner face view of one of the intake manifolds.

Fig. 10 is a face View of one ofthe movable.

abutments.

Fig. 10a is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 11 is a View looking mW/ard the opposite (Cl. (S0-44) side of the carburetor or mixer from thatshown in Fig. 8 and showing in section some of the charge mixingdevices.

Fig. l2 is a section on line I2 l2 of Fig. 11.

13 is a sectional View through the car- 5 buretor or mixer takensubstantially on line i3 i3 of Fig. 3.

Fig. i4 is a sectional view showing adjustable members of the carburetoror mixer.

Fig. l5 is a section through one of the charge 10 mixers showing thethrottle valve ring in open position.

Fig. l5 is a view similar to Fig. l5 showing the throttle valve ring inpartly closed position.

Fig. i7 is a sectional View on line Il l'l of 15 Fig. l illustrating thesuction relief action.

Figs. 18 to 21, inclusive, are sections through one of the chargemixers, illustrating different actions and control features thereof.

Fig. 22 is a side elevation of the engine on a 20 reduced scale.

In the practical embodiment of the invention as herein-disclosed, Iprovide a rotary engine structure comprising a shaft l, a stationaryenclosing casing or stator 2, and a rotor 3. The 2.5 casing 2 consistsof two sections 4 and 5, divided in a direction at right angles to theshaft, and each including walls B and 'i spaced to provide between themstorage chambers or reservoirs 8 for the gasoline or other fuel to beused, and the 30 section 5 is also provided with a wall 9 arranged toform with the wall 'l thereof a space IE! having air inlets and exhaustoutlets ll communicating with the atmosphere. The casing sections 4 and5 have abutting flanges I2 adapted to be en- 35 gaged by a suitablyconstructed tie bland I3 holding them properly assembled. Between theseflanges suitable packing It'. may be used for sealing purposes, toprevent leakage of gases. These flanges connect the margins of thehorizontal 40 portions of the walls 6 and 'l and may be provided atsuitable intervals with apertures l5 forming passages for the ilo-w ofthe fuel between the fuel reservoir chambers 8 in the respective casingsections. The fuel may be introduced into 45 the reservoirs through oneor more suitably closed inlets i6. The rotor 3 is arranged, as shown, ina space or chamber i1 formed between the walls l and 9 of the respectivecasing sections 5 and t, and said chamber il may serve as a 50 primaryor main exhaust chamber for the spent gases and communicate through oneor more primary exhaust outlets li, (Figs. 2 and 3) with the chamber i@and exhaust outlets Il.

The rotor 3 comprises a pair of spaced side 55.

members I9 and 20, which may be of either apertured disk or spider form.One of these members, the member I9, is provided with a hub or V' sleeve'I9a keyedto the shaft I and journaled'in roller bearings IVb in abearing box Ic formed upon walls `B and 'I of casing section 4, whilethe other member 2U is journaled upon bearings 29a on wall j 9 of thecasing. The members I9 and 20, together with a ring plate 2I carried bythe latter, turn at their marginal edges incontact with the rim por-Vtions 'Ia of the walls 'I and the member I9 has arranged, inwardly ofsuch edges, a, rim wall 22 lyingropposite the plate 2l and-formingwiththe said rim portions la and plate 2l anannular channel 23. Arrangedin this channel are spaced stationary abutments varying in numberaccording to the number of movable abutments and groups of Vchargemixers and compressors'tobe used. In the present instance, foursuchstation-vv ary abutments 24, 24a, 24b and 24c are shown, ar-

. ranged Aat quarter points'or at angles of,90 apart tweenV each pair ofadjacent or successively movable abutments. In-practice, there may beany suitable number of charge compressing devices in each group, four,denoted 26, 26e, 25h and 26C, being employed in each group in thepresent instance, and those used may vary in'size and capacity accordingto the size of the engine or number of the devices used and the numberand Vforce of the impulses to be produced for a Working action of theengine and in order to maintain a smooth, regular and'even continuity ofrotation of the rotor. s

Each stationary abutment 24, 24a, etc. Vcomprises'a hollow body havingan outer wall shaped to fit the inner casing rim surface formed by thewalls 1 and having an inner wall contacting intermediately with therim'22 of the rotor, so as Vto divide the channel 23 at that point,k theends of said wall being `spaced from the rim 22 beyond such'point bothforwardly and rearwardly. The abutment is suitably dividedY by apartitiontoprovide-an oil o-r lubricant holding-chamber 21 and a uidfeed passage 28, said chamber 21 having outlet perforations 21a for thedischarge of lubricant therefrom upon the surface of the rim Y22 fordistribution to the cylinders and pis- Vtons of the chargecompressing'devices A, B, C, D

of thel engine, theV remaining portions of Vthe engine requiringlubrication being lubricated in The oil may whenrequired by means` of asuitable feed'inlet 211?. YVThe passage 23 opens through the forward endof the stationary abutment into the channel 23 and communicates at oneside with a plurality Y of, feed ports 2B, said ports being controlledby a "valve member adjustable by means4 of anV adjusting screw' I towhich is iixed a worm gear 32 Vreceiving motion from a'worm` mounted ona Y control shaft 34 for'operation as hereinafter described, soY thatthe feed of theignited charge ,fromV the compressors` to the abutmentmay be properly timed/to accord with the ignition'period of the charge,which may slightly Vvary as to 'point in the cycle'of rotation of therotor under diierent Working conditions.V The-shafts 34 of .the valves`30proiect outwardly at one siderof the projecting engineand carrypinions 35 engaged by rack seg ments 36 0n the arms 3,1 of an armedframe* including a ring worm gear 31 engaged by a wormv 38 on anoperating shaft 33 having a, hand wheel or other means 40, whereby theseries of valves 3o may be simultaneously adjusted. Y

Each compressing device comprises a cornpressor cylinder 4l, of squareor other angular cross-section, and Within which operates a similarlyshaped piston 42. The pistons 42 of the charge compressors are carriedby rods 4,3 which extend inward radially of the rotor and carry at theirinner ends rollers d engaging cam grooves t5 carried by a cam disk V46iixed to the stub shaft 29a, said cam grooves presenting cam surfacesequal in number to the groups of compressors and having high and lowportions Vfor posi-Y tively moving the pistons outwardly and inwardly atproper time-periods for suction andcompression actions. The pistons arethusposi.-

tively projected and retracted by the cam surfaces. The rotor is alsoprovided with Va cylin- Y der or guide chamber .il for each movableabutment 25, which abutment is provided with track wheels 48 to run uponcam surfaces 'i9 formed by spaced rim edges or0V the cam disk 46, thecami tracks 49 alsolhaving high and low points for' and retracting theabutments Preferablyrthe low portions of the cam surfaces d consist ofdepressions V5i) causing the wheels '48 to recede and the abutment 25vto move in- Vwardly to retracted positionas it'passes under rim 'Ia andeach movable abutment is preferably Y provided with a friction roller 5Ifor easy trayeling engagementV with the rim 'Ia and with the inner wallof each stationary abutment 2li. Each movable abutment 25 is arrangedjust in rear of exhaust outlets 52 leading through slots or ex'-v haustports 53 to the exhaust chamber l?, froml which the'spent products ofVcombustion may eX- haust through port I8 to the atmosphere. The exhaustoutlets 52 may be so formed as to receive the roller carrying portion ofthe movable abutment when the latter is retracted, asa result of whichthe outlet is closed by the movable abutment for a definite periodoftime. Y

In the operation of the engine as thus far deis'Y scribed a fuel chargeentering a cylinderV di through an intake port 54, through the suctionof the piston 42 on the suction stroke of the latter, is compressed to aVery high degree of ce. pression in the cylinder Hion the compressionrton @i2 reaches the limit of its outstroke all oi the burning andexpanding gases are expelled through port 53 and the coasting port 29and discharged into the channel 23, behind the preaction above-describedtakesp-lace with respect to the charge compressed thereby, and the suc-Yceding projected movable abutment 25, through the outlet passage 28 inthe fixed abutment. AsY Veach charge compressor of a group, as the groupA, for instance, comes into *firingV position, ,the

cessive charges of eXp-andingrgases iiow throughV the passage'i of theXed abutment with which the group is at that time cooperating and' the`expansion of the gases is exerted against the lable abutment.grouppasses beyond the exhaust position, ex-

rmovableabutment `25 immediately ahead of the ,group sofas toimpartsuccessive impulses as well as'a continued impulse pressure'upon the`mov- When the rear compressor of a haust of gases from the channel 23takes place through the adjacent outlets 52 and 53, as will be readilyunderstood.

It will be understood that the portsZS and In order, also, to ensureproper the ring plate Y2 I, an intake manifold 5'! of novelVconstruction is provided. This manifold is provaction the cylinders area little bit out of time.

The use of separate channels in each manifoid is also employed to ensurethe proper time action of one charge compressor with the source of.supply of fuel at a time. The plate or ring 2i is Aalso provided at aproper point in the travel of each charge compressor beyond firingposition, with a relief port 59, one for each channel 5S, for connectingthe channel with the exhaust chamber of the casing to prevent suctionsticking of gas feed supply valves, as will be hereinafter described,

The manifolds 51 have their channels connected by groups of feed pipes60 with the outlets 6i in the rim of the casing of a carburetor or mixer62 supported by the'plate or wall 'i on the linner side l of said wall.`Arranged within the carburetor or mixer casing is an annular body 63provided with valve chambers 54 containing piston feed valves 65, thevalve chambers and valves being radially arranged and equal in number tothe charge compressors and arranged similarly in groups, there being afeed valve of the character described for each charge compressor.

Each valve member 65 is provided with a pair of spaced heads 66 and 161connected by a hollow stem 68 having air and fuel intake ports 69. Thehollow stem 68 moves on a fixed guide stem 'r' which closes its ports 69when the valve 65 is moved inwardly or retracted under the action of aspring 1l. The valve chambers are in communication with airfeed ports 12extending outwardly at that side of the body 63 facing the partition 9so as to be in open communication with the chamber I0, and the valvechambers are also in communication with 'fuel feed pipes 'I3 extendingtherefrom through the walls 1 into the fuel storage chamber 8. Arrangedbetween the rim 62 and the valve chambers is a throttle ring 'i4 havingpassages 'i5 communicating with the outlets 6l and the pipe 6B, and whensaid passages 15 and pipe 6B are in communication with the cylinders andthe piston 42 of a charge compressor supplied by its particular feedvalve 65 moves on its suction stroke, the valve member 65 is drawnoutward by the suction pull in the communicating pipes 69 and opens theports 69. The ports 69 are thus brought into communication with theports 'l2 and pipes 13 and a measured amount of air and .fuel will thusbe supplied through the valve to the proper manifold for supplying `aproper charge of the fuel mixture to the charge compressing device of agroup moving up to firing position. Thus it will be understood that .bythe provision of a valved carburetor or mixer of the character describedthe charge compressors will be automatically fed with measured chargesof just the right amount of air and fuel for ignition and explosion inan accurately timed manner. It will also-be understood, of course, thatthe relief ports 59 in the plate or ring 2l are provided for connectingeach feed valve with the exhaust chamber I7 after such charge compressorhas compressed, ignited and expelled its charge, in order that air maybe supplied to the valve 65 to prevent said valve from being suctionbound and in order to adapt it to be returned to vclosed position by itsspring 1i.

In order to control the speed and working power of the engine, there hasbeen provided means whereby a certain number of the charge compressorsand their valves, for example, two groups of the charge compressors outof the four groups shown, may be entirely thrown out of action orsupplied with less than the normal amount of fuel in order to reducetheir working force. Also, in order to control the power and speed ofthe engine, without the necessity of throwing any of the charge formersout of working action. means are provided for controlling the supply offuel mixture to the charge compressors. Arranged at opposite sides ofthe carburetor or mixer are valve rings 'i6 and '17, the

ring 'i6 having two diametrically disposed slots 'I8 arranged thereinand the ring 'il having a pair of diametrically disposed slots 'i9arranged therein and disposed at right angles to the slots 18 in thering 1G. The ring 15, through its slots, controls the supply of airthrough ports 'i2 to two working groups ofthe valves v65,correspondingto two working groups B and vD of the charge compressors, while the ring'58, through its-slots.

controls the supply of through the ports 'i2' to the `valves of theother two groups of valves vassociated with the other groups A and C of.charge compressors, so that by adjustment of either ring a single one,or any number of the charge compressors of the groups controlled therebymaybe out out of action by closing the -air feed ports 'i2 and/or ports12 leading to their valves, .and thus preventing the valves 65so derivedof air from moving under a suction pull and consequently preventing anyfeed of fuel to such charge compressors. In View of the number of chargecompressors and valves employedand the infeasibility or Yinconvenienceof controlling all valves from one side of the carburetor or fuel mixed,the valve rings 'i6 and 'il are arranged, as disclosed, atoppositesides-ofthefcarburetor and the air feed ports l2 and 'l2' of the valvesof dissimilar groups open outwardly at opposite sides of the carburetor,ports 'l2' communicating when open through the slots l@ with ports 12ainv Vtionary rod or shaft 82.

.cutting off or reducing'to a greater or less extent 1 the amount offuel supplied to the charge com- `controlling action on the engine, Ysothat, by the controlling means disclosed, the engine may be mounteddirectly upon a' drive shaft and the power and speed of the shaftgoverned as desired. The rings 'l5 and 11 are connected by armsto'sleeves B and 8| mounted on a sta- On said sleeves and 8l are wormwheels 83 and 84 engaged by worms and B operable by rods 81 and 88,whereby said rings 7% and Tl may be adjusted and locked in adjustedposition. The ring 'i4 is connected by arms with a ring89 turningloosely on the sleeve @i and having worm gearV teeth meshing with a wormSB on an operating rod 9|, whereby the ring 'M maybe adjusted andlockedin ad- Y justed position.

In starting this motor, it may be cranked in the Usual way, and by'aspinning operation a fly wheel effect is established, giving great speedwith a small amount of applied power, so that compression and ignitionof the fuel charges by the charge compressors may be quickly effectedfor starting the engine. Y Where the Iengine is one of great size, andcranking would be inconvenient or infeasible, a small starting motor ofsuitable type may be employed forza starting action.

Having thus fully described my invention, I

claimr- Y 1. VIn a rotary engine, a casing dening an annular chamber, ashaft extending into said chamber through one side of saidV casing,a'partition in said chamber, stationary abutments in said chamber spacedfrom each other circumferentially thereof atl one side ofsaid partitionand each formed with a passage opening through one end la rotor in saidchamber fixed to said shaft and turning about a hub projecting from saidpartition,an annular cam element in said chamber encircled'by said rotorand having sets of cam surfaces, movable abutments carried by said rotorin spaced relation to each other oircumferentially thereof and engagingone set of cam surfaces for guidance past the stationary abutments asthe rotor turns, compressors carried by said rotor between the movableabutments and consistingV of cylinders having pistons slidable thereinand re- `ciprocated by the other cam surfaces, a carburetor in saidchamber at the opposite side there- Vof from said rotor having pipesleading therefrom land communicating with the cylindersthrou'gh ports inthe' partition whereby fuel may be drawn into theV compressors andhighly compressed and y delivered in an ignited condition throughpassages of the stationary abutments to act against the movableabutments and rotate the rotor, and means for controlling operation ofsaid carbu- Y retor.

2. A rotary engine constructed as set forth in claim 1 wherein theengine casing has spaced inner and outer walls to provide a fuelreservoir and the carburetor is secured against the inner wallandprovided with feed pipes extending,

through the inner wall into the reservoir.

3. A rotary engine constructed asset forth in claim 1 wherein the enginecasing has spaced in,-A ner and outer walls defining a fuel reservoirand the carburetor consists of an annular casing se- 10 cured againstthe inner wall of the engine casing and divided into cylindricalchambers communieating with the fuel reservoir, valves sldable in saidchambers to control flow of fuel into said chambers, .and meanscontrolling the ow of fuel l5 out of the chambers through thepipesrleading from the carburetor and communicating withthe compressorsthrough said partition. Y

4. A rotary engine constructed as set forth in claim l wherein theengine casing has spaced'in- 20 ner and outer walls defining a fuelreservoirandY the carburetor consists of an annular caslngfse'- curedagainst the inner wall of the engine casing and divided into cylindricalchambers communieating with the lfuel reservoir, suction valves slid- 25able in said chambers to control the flow of fuel into and through saidchamber,'and an annular band movable into and out of position to admitair and control flow of fuel out of the cylindrical chambers into thepipes leading to the condensers. 30

5. A rotary engine constructed as set forth in claim 1 wherein the camVelement consists of a disk having a rim portion provided with spacedside walls defining a circumferentially extending channel receiving thepiston rods of the compres- 35 sors and having a series of arcuatecam-.f surfaces each engageable by the piston rods of la set ofcompressors whereby the pistons of each Aset of compressors may beprogressively moved into and out of a compressing position andcorresponding 4,70V

compressors of the sets simultaneously moved, the rims Vbeing providedwith spaced ,arcuate surfaces for engagement by the movable abutments topermit movement thereof past the stationary abutments in timed relationto rotation of the 45 rotor and movement of the compressors.

6. A rotary engine constructed as set forth in claim 1 wherein the'camelement consists of a disk having a rim portion provided with spacedside walls formedrwith circumferentially spacedrV arcuate surfacesengageable by the movablel abutments to guide the same past thestationary abut- Y ments as the rotor turns, said rim defining a channelreceivingrods of the compressor pistons and formed with cam surfaceseach engageable by all 55 the rods of one Aset of compressors wherebythe compressors of each set may be successively moved in a compressingdirection as the cooperating movable abutment passes a stationaryabutment and jets of compressed and exploded fuel act suc- @o cessivelythereon to rotate the rotor.

MANUEL HUMBERTO i PEREZ SOLOGAISTOA.

